The complex footprint and parametrics should not be a problem, now that I’ve thought it through further. Basically in entails storing the x, y coordinates in the attribute library. I just need to make it happen.

I’ve been giving this plugin some more thought now that I well versed with making my other plugins parametric.

The one area that is intriguing to me right now is the ability to make a complex outline parametric.

My concept or idea on how to make this work would be to have a context menu item which allows the user to right click on the foundation (ie. slab-on-grade) and choose to edit “foundation outline”. A html menu would open up with the option to cancel or save changes.

The points that define the foundation outline are actually stored in the attribute library. The tool would create a temporary group and then create a temporary outline (edges) within that group, while greying out the rest of the model.

The user could then modify, delete or create any edges (lines) they like, so long as the edges (points) form a complete, closed loop. (When the user clicks save the plugin would first do some error checking to make sure that the updated outline forms a valid loop.)

Once the user is done editing they can click the save button and the new points are saved into the attribute library, the temp group and its contents is deleted. The user is returned back to the root of model and the foundation is regenerated.

I’ve been trying to learn this plugin and the wall plugin and have been finding some things I don’t know how to best manage.
With the the foundation plugin I created a frost protected slab on grade with a 6 inch curb. The origin if the foundation is established by the plugin at the floor on the first corner. The wall plugin establishes the beginning of the first wall at that same point which of course is 6 inches below the curb. If I change the origin of the foundation so the wall is on top of the curb then all header heights are placed from the top of the curb also rather than from the floor.

The wall height (for the wall plugin) is from the bottom of the wall (bottom plate) to the top of the wall (top plate). If you place your walls on a stemwall or garage curb then the total wall height will actually be the height of the framed wall plus the height of the foundation wall.

The height of your window headers will need to be adjusted accordingly.

However with doors and garage doors there is an option to offset them vertically so that they are actually positioned below the bottom plate (Version 0.8.4d - 7.9.2018):

I am interested to understand how adaptable this plugin is for non-US construction. From the screenshots in this thread, the plugin often combines two or three separate elements in, say, UK construction. That is, foundation, footing wall, and floor slab.

The standard method of construction over here up until about 1980 was to have a relatively shallow concrete foundation, maybe only 100mm thick (but up to 225mm thick). You would raise a footing wall off that up to damp proof course level. The ground floor slab would then be poured. That method is still employed where it is difficult to get concrete lorries to trenches.

Nowadays, it is more common to fill trenches to within, say 225mm of ground level and for the footing wall to be very much shorter. It is more cost effective. The footing wall will often be the same construction as the wall above damp proof course level. But it would rarely be the case that ground bearing slabs formed part of the foundation concrete as practicality dictates that they be formed at different times.

Another issue is the foundation width. For external walls, they would be between 500mm and 600mm corresponding with standard digger bucket widths. For internal loadbearing walls they might only be 450mm or even 300mm wide. Depth is variable but less so. There is a standard of 1000mm from ground level but can be much deeper if there are trees nearby or poor ground conditions. Over 3000mm tends to be impractical so different foundation types are used such as pad and beam or piling.

Now I just need to add the stats tabe into the attributes and then we can also bring this data into the Medeek Estimator module.

I think it would also be useful to quantify the rebar and provide the size (dia.) and total lineal feet for each size used. For the wires mesh I’m assuming that number would be a sqft (area) but I’m not sure whether to provide the area which includes my (inside) offset or just the total area of the slab itself.

Anchor bolts are easy (size and qty.)

All also have the FPSF option which includes foam around the perimeter of the foundation. I’m assuming this number would probably be the thickness and sqft (area)?

Note that the area dimension is the total area of the slab per its outer perimeter, so a garage curb will not change this number.

Foundation and Footing labels option added to the General tab of the Global Settings.

Foundation and Footing label prefixes can be customized in the General tab of the Global Settings.

Foundation labels enabled for slab-on-grade foundations.

When construction callouts are enabled the overall area and volume (concrete) of the foundation is displayed beneath foundation label (currently only slab-on-grade foundation assemblies have this feature available).

Added customizable colors for lumber, PT Lumber and labels within the Materials tab of the Global Settings.

The customizable colors for the lumber (PT) will not take affect until I update the stemwall module. Currently the color of the lumber is still hard coded into this module.

I am also working on an update to the Medeek Estimator which will then allow the user to quantify foundations as well as roof and wall assemblies.

So far I have the concrete, rebar, and anchor bolts queued up for analysis in the estimator module. I will need to still work on adding in the insulation (foam) for the FPSF option. The first foundation type that will be made available in the estimator is the slab-on-grade. Once I am satisfied with the integration between the two plugins I will continue to flesh out the rest of the foundation types.

The bigger issue right now is the lack of parametrics for this plugin. With the addition of the attribute library I am one step closer to making this happen. There is really nothing special that needs to happen it is just a matter of pulling together the HTML menus and other tedious tasks within the Ruby code.

I apologize that it has taken this long to begin to address the parametrics issue. As can be seen in the changelog I had a burst of activity in 2017 and then only recently began to slowly process other updates.

At some point, can the position of wall-to-foundation fasteners (for slab-on-grade construction) automatically change based on stud and door placement (within Wall plugin)?
I guess it would be plank instead of stud for subfloor (first floor) construction.

We do use anchor bolts, but they are NOT preset bolts. For slab-on-grade construction, the anchor bolts we use are Red Head 1/2 inch x 10 inch. Anchor bolt positioning and other building code requirements: most of the nearby major cities in my area use the 2012 IBC.
Also, for some of our attached garages, garage footings T-intersect with the house footings. Foundation assemblies require a closed rectangle or polygon in order to be created, right?

I am interested to understand how adaptable this plugin is for non-US construction. From the screenshots in this thread, the plugin often combines two or three separate elements in, say, UK construction. That is, foundation, footing wall, and floor slab.

Did this ever receive an answer? I can’t find one and am interested along the same lines myself.

Sorry I haven’t had a chance to really dig into your question. I guess a picture or two would go a long way in illustrating your method of construction for foundations.

I’ve had quite a bit of interest from various Australian firms with regards to waffle foundations.

To be honest the foundation plugin is still very much in its infancy. It has not received nearly the attention that it needs or deserves. Parametrics are still completely absent. I have a lot of work ahead of me in bring this plugin up to par with the other two plugins.